They gave Sally a few minutes to mourn her loss. Jeff put the bag containing the dogs head down in the shadow of the porch steps out of sight, and then they took her inside. She was recovering her composure in the bathroom while Jeff and his dad sat in the living room waiting. They could hear her in there, it sounded like she was chanting or something. It sounded foreign, like another language, but they couldn’t make out what she was saying...

“It looked like the dogs head was just twisted off dad. I can’t believe anyone would do that. And the puppies... We need to call the cops.”

“I don’t know Jeff. Like I said, I recognized that car. It belongs to Jim Silva. You know who that is don’t you?”

“The sheriff? No way dad! That’s not who had it at the bar. This was a young guy, he was...”

“It’s probably his son. He’s been in plenty of trouble before. His father keeps getting him off the hook somehow. Bending the rules.”

Just as Sally came out of the bathroom, the quiet night was disrupted by the scream of sirens. Once again, they all ended up out on the porch. Three fire trucks went speeding by. Following close behind was a car that slowed down and turned into the driveway. It was Jeff’s friend Jake. He was a volunteer firefighter. He only half got out of the drivers seat and shouted over the top of the car door...

“Sally’s still with you? Good! Jeff! It just came through on the police scanner, the Bedford house is on fire, Sally’s house. It’s burning to the ground... I gotta go help out, I just wanted to see if Sally was still here!” And as quickly as he had come, he tore back out the driveway and flew down the road.

Sally was in a full panic again and begging Jeff to take her down to her house. Another car with lights flashing and siren blasting sped by. It was the sheriffs car, probably with Jim Silva behind the wheel.

“Please! Our house has been in the family for over a hundred years! I have to try to save some of our things!”

Jeff’s father looked at Sally with compassion. “Sally, the fire department is doing everything they can to save your house, and they wouldn’t let you go in it even if we went down there. I want to hear more about how this all started. Come back into the house. We can go down there as soon as they get things under control.”

Sally stood her ground for a moment, and then came to the decision that Jeff’s father was of course right. “I should be there, there are things I... left behind. You’re right though, I’m sure there is nothing we could do.”

Jeff opened the door and they all walked back inside. They went into the kitchen and sat around the table. Jeff didn’t even know what was going on really, other than the scuffle in the parking lot. Sally had been to upset to talk on their way to his house. She just told him she didn’t want to go home and be alone...

“I had just pulled into the parking lot. Danny Silva was leaning against his car, having a smoke. I didn’t realize it was him or I would have parked as far away from him as I could.”

“So you know him then?” Asked Jeff.

“Yes, he’s been trying to get in my pants for months... Oh! Sorry sir,” she said in embarrassment, looking at Jeff’s dad.

“You can dispense with that ‘sir’ nonsense straight away!” He chuckled in response. “Call me Mr. Roper, or Roger would be even better. I know your mom and dad, but I’ve never met you Sally.” He offered his hand and they shook. “Nice to meet you. What happened next?”

“Well, I got out of my car, ignoring him, and tried to go inside. Next thing I knew, he was dragging me back to his car. He tried to open the door and shove me in, but I kept fighting him off. That’s when he started hitting me. He was stinking drunk. Then Jeff and his friends came out and pulled him off.”

Jeff interrupted, “Like I said dad, I had to help her. Sally and I were in a few classes together last year, so I knew who she was. Science major right?” He asked looking at her...

“I really haven’t decided yet, but I had to choose something to take the courses I was interested in. I was taking classes in Paranormal and Occult studies. Witchcraft and ESP, things like that. I have a knack for it I guess.”

As they talked, the mood lightened considerably. Sarah explained that she had always been interested in witchcraft. Supposedly, one of her ancestors was actually burned at the steak as a witch. Jeff and his father stole sly glances at each other in bemused disbelief. They were in animated conversation when they heard the throaty rumble of a car engine. Someone was pulling into the driveway.

“Stay here, I’ll go see who it is.” Roger got up and left the kitchen. Sarah And Jeff continued their conversation.

“I don’t believe in all that voodoo stuff myself.”

“You don’t have to believe. And it’s not voodoo. You need an item from your intended victim to make Voodoo work. A witch can cast spells in other ways. You just need to know the words, the correct pronunciations.”

Jeff laughed uncomfortably. “You’re serious aren’t you? If you can do spells,” he asked sarcastically, “Then why didn’t you use one to keep Danny away from you?”

She hesitated for a minute. “It’s all right you know.” Sally thought carefully before she continued. “I don’t mind that you don’t believe me. I have never used my gift against another human being. Some people just don’t fit that description. But that is all going to change tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

Before she could reply, they heard what sounded like a struggle out on the front porch, and then a loud thump. They jumped up and ran from the kitchen towards the front door, only to find Danny Silva letting himself in. As the screen door slammed, they looked past him and saw Jeff’s father sprawled out in a pool of blood on the porch. In Danny’s hand was a bloody baseball bat...